JP2009145806A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of lightening burden in replacing a used toner cartridge without increasing the scale of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is equipped with an image forming apparatus main body 1a, print units 4 for a plurality of colors or one color, and toner cartridges 12 for a plurality of colors or one color arranged to be attached to/detached from the attaching part 11 of the main body 1a so as to communicate with the print units 4 and to oppose to each other. Four first main body guides 31a and 31b and four toner supply paths 33 are provided to the attaching part 11 of the main body 1a, and engaging parts 37a and 37b engaged with at least one of the first main body guides 31a and 31b when attachment, and a toner supply port 38 connected to any of the toner supply paths 33 when attachment are provided to the toner cartridge 12, whereby capacity of the attaching part 11 is kept fixed, and capacity of the individual toner cartridge 12 can be changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a replaceable toner cartridge and a print unit.

  In general, when an image forming apparatus has a color printer and the frequency of color printing is low and the frequency of use of black printing is high, it is necessary to replace only the black toner cartridge as compared with the color toner cartridge. On the other hand, the color and black toner cartridges may be used to the same extent, and the color and black toner cartridges may be exchanged to the same extent.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus in which the capacity of a black toner cartridge is larger than that of other color toner cartridges.

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the capacity of the toner cartridge can be changed. However, since the space for increasing the capacity needs to be provided in advance in the toner cartridge mounting portion, the size of the apparatus is increased. There was a problem of inviting. In addition, since the toner capacity is increased by providing two toner cartridges of the same size, the replacement load of the used toner cartridge is not reduced.

JP 2006-25138 A

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the burden of replacing used toner cartridges without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  As means for solving the problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body, a multi-color or single-color print unit necessary for image formation, and a mounting portion of the main body so as to communicate with the print unit. In an image forming apparatus that is detachably disposed and that includes a toner cartridge of a plurality of colors or one color that contains toner and supplies the toner to the print unit, four first main body guides and four Two toner replenishing passages, and the toner cartridge is provided with a first engaging portion that engages with at least one first main body guide when mounted, and a toner replenishing port connected to one of the toner replenishing passages, The volume of the mounting portion is kept constant, and the volume of each of the toner cartridges can be changed.

  The size of the toner cartridge for each color can be changed by keeping the volume of the mounting portion constant without providing an extra space in the mounting portion for increasing the toner capacity. .

  Further, it is possible to reduce the burden of replacing the toner cartridge by increasing the volume of the frequently used toner cartridge.

  It is preferable that at least three second main body guides are further provided in the mounting portion of the main body, and a second engagement portion that engages at least one of the second main body guides at the time of mounting is provided in the toner cartridge.

  It is preferable that the toner cartridge has a plurality of volumes.

  Since there are multiple types of toner cartridges, the volume of toner cartridges that store frequently used toner is increased, the volume of toner cartridges that store less frequently used toner is reduced, and the toner cartridge replacement burden is reduced. Can be reduced.

  Regardless of the volume of the toner cartridge, it is preferable that the installation position of the toner supply port formed in the toner cartridge with respect to the print unit is the same.

  Regardless of the volume of the toner cartridge, it is preferable that the shape of the toner replenishing passage that communicates the toner cartridge and the print unit is the same.

  Since the installation position of the toner supply port of the toner cartridge with respect to the print unit is the same, the shape of the toner supply passage that connects the toner cartridge and the print unit can be made the same.

  By making the shape of the toner replenishment passage the same, the toner cartridge can be easily attached / detached without replacing the toner replenishment passage with another component when the toner cartridge is attached / detached.

  It is preferable that the shape of the print unit of each color is the same as the shape of the print unit of other colors.

  Since the shape of the print unit for each color is the same as the shape of the print unit for the other color, the print unit for each color can be mounted at the print unit mounting position for the other color.

  Since the volume of the toner cartridge for each color can be changed without providing an extra space for increasing the toner capacity in the toner cartridge mounting portion, the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  Further, it is possible to reduce the burden of replacing the toner cartridge by increasing the volume of the frequently used toner cartridge.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt 2 as an image carrier at a substantially central portion inside the image forming apparatus main body 1a. The intermediate transfer belt 2 is supported by the outer peripheral portions of the rollers 3a and 3b and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A. The drive roller 3a is connected to a drive motor (not shown), and the driven roller 3b is driven to rotate as the drive roller 3a rotates. Below the lower horizontal portion of the intermediate transfer belt 2 are four print units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K corresponding to the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). They are arranged side by side along the transfer belt 2. The shapes of the print units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are the same. Each print unit 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K has a photosensitive drum 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K and a developing device 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, respectively. Around the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K that face the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K with the intermediate transfer belt 2 interposed therebetween, respectively. Has been placed. The developing devices 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K include developing rollers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K and toner receiving portions 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. The developing devices 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K communicate with the toner cartridge 12 that is detachably attached to the cartridge mounting portion 11a that is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 2 via the toner supply passage 33, respectively. ing. A portion of the intermediate transfer belt 2 supported by the driving roller 3a is in pressure contact with a secondary transfer roller (transfer roller) 13, and a nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 13 and the intermediate transfer belt 2 is a transfer portion 14. It has become. A fixing roller 16 and a pressure roller 17 are disposed further downstream of the sheet passing path 15 a, and the pressure contact portion is a fixing nip region 18.

  Under the image forming apparatus 1, four types of first, second, third, and fourth sheet feeding units 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are provided. The first sheet feeding unit 19a and the second sheet feeding unit are provided. 19b is arranged up and down, and the third sheet feeding unit 19c and the fourth sheet feeding unit 19d are arranged on the left and right below the second sheet feeding unit 19b. The sheets S stacked and accommodated in each of the sheet feeding units 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are sent out one by one from the top to the sheet passing path 15b. A circulation path 21 is provided on the side of the image forming apparatus 1. The single-sided printed paper that is switched back by the paper discharge roller 22 is conveyed downward through the circulation path 21, and is again conveyed upward through the paper passing path 15c with the unprinted surface facing the intermediate transfer belt 2. It has become so. A manual paper feeder 23 is provided below the circulation path 21. A sheet feeding roller 24 for feeding the sheet S is disposed in the sheet feeding path 15b from the manual sheet feeding device 23 and each of the sheet feeding units 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d as representatively shown in FIG. Has been. Reference numeral 25 denotes an exposure unit 25 that exposes the print units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K based on image signals.

  Next, a schematic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. Color print data obtained by reading an image with the image reading unit 26 or image data output from a personal computer or the like is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the exposure unit 25, and then yellow (Y), magenta (M ), Cyan (C), and black (K) image signals are supplied to the print units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K. In each of the print units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, a laser beam modulated with an image signal is projected onto each of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K to form an image latent image. Yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed on the respective photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K. The formed yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are primarily transferred onto the moving intermediate transfer belt 2 in sequence by the action of the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. The superimposed toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 2 in this way reaches the transfer unit 14 as the intermediate transfer belt 2 moves. In the transfer unit 14, the superimposed toner images of each color are collectively applied to the paper S supplied from the paper supply units 19 a, 19 b, 19 c, 19 d or the manual paper supply device 23 by the action of the secondary transfer roller 13. Transcribed. Next, the sheet S on which the toner image is secondarily transferred reaches the fixing nip region 18. In the fixing nip region 18, the toner image is fixed on the paper S by the action of the fixing roller 16 and the pressure roller 17. The paper S on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 27 via the paper discharge roller 22.

  Next, the cartridge mounting portion 11a and the toner cartridge 12 will be described with reference to FIG. Four T-shaped first main body guides 31a extending from the front of the image forming apparatus 1 to the back are arranged on the upper surface of the cartridge mounting portion 11a, and are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction of the cartridge mounting portion 11a. ing. On the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 11a, three second main body guides 32 extend from the front to the back of the image forming apparatus 1 and are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction of the cartridge mounting portion 11a. Further, holes 34 at the upper ends of the four toner supply passages 33 are arranged at equal intervals, and the lower ends of the toner supply passages 33 are connected to the print unit 4 via an entrance shutter 35 (see FIG. 3).

  Each toner cartridge 12 has the same shape, and a first engagement portion 37a having a T-shaped cross section is provided on the upper surface thereof, and a circular toner supply port 38 is formed on the bottom surface of the toner cartridge 12. Yes. An exit shutter 39 is slidably provided at the toner supply port 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner supply port 38 communicates with the print unit 4 via the exit shutter 39 and the toner supply passage 33.

  In addition to the toner cartridge 12 having the same shape, four toner cartridges having the same shape can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11a of the image forming apparatus 1. Each toner cartridge accommodates yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, and can perform full color printing.

  Referring to FIG. 4A, the first to third toner cartridges 41a on the left are shorter in the height direction than the toner cartridge 12 of FIG. 2, and contain yellow, magenta, and cyan toners, respectively. The fourth toner cartridge 41b has the same height as the toner cartridge 12 of FIG. 2, but the upper portion extends to the upper surface of the first to third toner cartridges 41a and contains black toner. The first to third toner cartridges 41 a are installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11 a with the second engagement portion 42 disposed on the bottom surface engaged with the second main body guide 32. The fourth toner cartridge 41b is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with two first engaging portions 37a engaging the first main body guide 31a.

  Referring to FIG. 4B, the first and second toner cartridges 41d have the same shape as the toner cartridge 12 of FIG. 2, and contain yellow and magenta toner. The third toner cartridge 41a is shorter in height than the toner cartridge 41d and contains cyan toner. The fourth toner cartridge 41c has the same height as the toner cartridge 41d, but the upper portion extends to the upper surface of the third toner cartridge 41a and accommodates black toner. Each of the first and second toner cartridges 41d is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with the first engaging portion 37a engaging the first main body guide 31a. The third toner cartridge 41 a is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11 a with the second engaging portion 42 engaged with the second main body guide 32. The fourth toner cartridge 41c is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with two first engaging portions 37a engaging the first main body guide 31a.

  Referring to FIG. 4C, the first and third toner cartridges 41a are shorter in the height direction than the toner cartridge 41d and contain yellow and cyan toners. The second and fourth toner cartridges 41c have the same height as the toner cartridge 41d, but their upper portions extend to the upper surfaces of the first and third toner cartridges 41a, respectively, and contain magenta and black toners. Yes. Each of the first and third toner cartridges 41 a is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11 a with the second engaging portion 42 engaged with the second main body guide 32. Each of the second and fourth toner cartridges 41c is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with the two first engaging portions 37a engaging the first main body guide 31a.

  Further, three toner cartridges having the same shape shown in FIG. 5 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11a of the image forming apparatus 1. The three toner cartridges store three colors of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and can print, for example, black and red.

  The left and center first and second toner cartridges 43a have the same shape as the toner cartridge 12 of FIG. 2, and contain, for example, yellow and magenta toner. The third toner cartridge 43b on the right side has the same height as the toner cartridge 43a, but is about twice as long in the lateral direction as the first and second toner cartridges 43a and has a volume about twice that of the first and second toner cartridges 43a. Contained. In each of the first and second toner cartridges 43a, one first engaging portion 37a is engaged with the first main body guide 31a, and is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a. The third toner cartridge 43b has two first engaging portions 37a engaged with the first main body guide 31a, and is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a. The toner supply port 38 of the third toner cartridge 43 b is formed at the same position as the toner supply port 38 of the fourth toner cartridge 12 d shown in FIG. 2 and communicates with the print unit 4 through the toner supply passage 33.

  Furthermore, two toner cartridges shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C can be mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. The two toner cartridges store two of the four color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and can print, for example, black and one color.

  Referring to FIG. 6A, the first and second toner cartridges 44a have the same height as the toner cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, but are about twice as long in the lateral direction and have a volume of about twice. For example, magenta and black toners are accommodated. Each of the first and second toner cartridges 44a has two first engaging portions 37a engaged with the first main body guide 31a, and is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a. The toner supply ports 38 of the first and second toner cartridges 44a are formed at the same positions as the toner supply ports 38 of the first and fourth toner cartridges 12a and 12d shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 6B, the first toner cartridge 44b on the left side has the same shape as the toner cartridge 12 of FIG. 2, and contains, for example, yellow toner. The right second toner cartridge 44c has the same height as the left first toner cartridge 44b, but is approximately three times longer in the horizontal direction and approximately three times the volume, and contains black toner. The first toner cartridge 44b is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with one first engaging portion 37a engaged with the first main body guide 31a. The second toner cartridge 44c has two first engaging portions 37a engaged with the first main body guide 31a, and is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a. The toner supply port 38 of the second toner cartridge 44c is formed at the same position as the toner supply port 38 of the fourth toner cartridge 12d shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 6C, the left first toner cartridge 44d is shorter in height than the toner cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, and contains, for example, cyan toner. The second toner cartridge 44e has the same height as the toner cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, but the upper portion extends to the upper surface of the first toner cartridge 44d and accommodates black toner. The first toner cartridge 44d is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with the second engaging portion 42 engaged with the second main body guide 32. The second toner cartridge 44e is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with two first engaging portions 37a engaged with the first main body guide 31a. The toner supply port 38 of the second toner cartridge 44e is formed at the same position as the toner supply port 38 of the fourth toner cartridge 12d shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 can be equipped with one toner cartridge shown in FIG. One toner cartridge accommodates one of four toner colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and for example, monochrome printing of only one black is possible.

  One toner cartridge 45 has the same height as the toner cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, but is installed in the entire cartridge mounting portion 11a in the lateral direction. The volume is about four times that of the toner cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, and contains black toner. The toner cartridge 45 is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a with two first engaging portions 37a engaging the first main body guide 31a. The toner supply port 38 of the toner cartridge 45 is formed at the same position as the toner supply port 38 of the fourth toner cartridge 12d shown in FIG.

  The toner cartridges 12, 41 (41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d), 43 (43 a, 43 b), 44 (41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d, 44 e) and 45 are arranged in front of the image forming apparatus 1 from the first side. Alternatively, the second engaging portions 37a, 37b, and 42 are engaged with the first or second main body guides 31a, 31b, and 32, so that the first or second main body guide 31a, It is guided to 31b and 32, and is installed in the cartridge mounting part 11a. When installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11a, as shown in FIG. 3A, the toner accommodated in the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45 with the outlet and inlet shutters 39 and 35 opened is converted into toner. The toner is supplied to the toner receiver 9 through the supply passage 33. When the toner is not supplied, the toner supply can be stopped and the toner replaced by closing only the exit shutter 39 or the exit shutter 39 and the entrance shutter 35 (see FIG. 3B).

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the volume of the cartridge mounting portion 11a is kept constant without providing an extra space in the cartridge mounting portion 11a to increase the toner capacity. Since the volumes of the cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45 can be changed, the image forming apparatus 1 can be downsized.

  Since there is no partition member such as an insertion guide between the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 of each color, the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 having different dimensions can be installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11 a. it can.

  In addition, it is possible to reduce the burden of replacing the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 by increasing the volume of the frequently used toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45.

  Since there are a plurality of types of toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45, the volume of the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45 that store toner that is frequently used is increased and the frequency of use is low. By reducing the volume of the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45 that contain the toner, the burden of replacing the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, and 45 can be reduced.

  Since the toner replenishing port 38 of the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 is installed at the same position with respect to the print unit 4, the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 and the print unit 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C,. 4K), the shape of the toner supply passage 33 can be made the same.

  By making the shape of the toner replenishment passage 33 the same, the toner cartridges 12, 41, 49 can be easily replaced without replacing the toner replenishment passage 33 with another part when the toner cartridges 12, 41, 43, 44, 45 are attached / detached. 43, 44, 45 can be attached and detached.

  Since the shape of the print unit 4 of each color is the same as the shape of the print unit 4 of other colors, the print unit 4 of each color can be mounted at the mounting position of the print unit 4 of other colors.

  FIG. 8 shows a modification of the above embodiment, but the same elements as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the modification of FIG. 8, the cartridge mounting portion 11 b opens above the image forming apparatus 1. Referring to FIG. 8A, four first main body guides 31b extend downward on the side surface of the cartridge mounting portion 11b and are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. Four holes 34 of the toner supply passage 33 are formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 11b.

  Each toner cartridge 46a has a first engaging portion 37b, which is an engaging portion, formed on a side surface thereof downward. The toner cartridge 46a is guided by the first main body guide 31b from the upper side to the lower side of the image forming apparatus 1 when the first engaging portion 37b engages with the first main body guide 31b, and is moved to the cartridge mounting portion 11b. Installed.

  The cartridge mounting portion 11b of the image forming apparatus 1 can be mounted with not only the same shape toner cartridge 46a but also the non-identical toner cartridges 46b and 46c shown in FIG. 8B. The first to third toner cartridges 46b are shorter in depth than the toner cartridge 46a and contain yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The fourth toner cartridge 46c has the same depth as the toner cartridge 46a, but extends to the back of the back of the first to third toner cartridges 46b and accommodates black toner. Accordingly, the volume of the toner cartridge 46 (46a, 46b, 46c) that is frequently used can be increased, and the replacement load of the toner cartridge 46 can be reduced.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be variously modified.

  Regarding the first or second engaging portions 37a, 37b, 42 and the first or second main body guides 31a, 31b, 32, the first or second engaging portions 37a, 37b, 42 and the first or second main body guides. As long as engagement with 31a, 31b, 32 is ensured, a specific structure is not limited to the thing of embodiment.

  Regarding the toner supply port 38 and the toner supply passage 33, the specific structure is not limited to that of the embodiment as long as the toner supply port 38 and the toner receiving portion 9 of the print unit 4 communicate with each other via the toner supply passage 33. For example, the toner replenishment passage 33 can be configured to gradually expand along the toner movement direction in the longitudinal direction in order to prevent toner clogging.

  As for the toner cartridge 12, the specific structure is not limited to that of the embodiment as long as the toner is accommodated and detachably installed in the cartridge mounting portion 11 (11a, 11b).

1 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a cartridge mounting portion and a toner cartridge according to the present invention. 1 is an overall perspective view of a toner cartridge and a toner receiver according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the cartridge mounting portion and the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a cartridge mounting portion and a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side view of a cartridge mounting portion and a toner cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the cartridge mounting part and toner cartridge which concern on 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a side view of a cartridge mounting portion and a toner cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Image forming apparatus main body 4, 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K Print unit 11, 11a, 11b Cartridge mounting part 31a, 31b First main body guide 32 Second main body guide 33 Toner supply passage 37a, 37b First engagement Part 38 Toner supply port 41, 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d Toner cartridge 42 Second engaging part 43, 43a, 43b Toner cartridge 44, 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e Toner cartridge 45 Toner cartridge 46, 46a, 46b 46c Toner cartridge

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus main body, a multi-color or single-color print unit necessary for image formation, and a detachable arrangement on the mounting portion of the main body so as to communicate with the print unit, accommodate toner, and supply the toner to the print unit In an image forming apparatus provided with a toner cartridge of a plurality of colors or one color,
In the mounting portion of the main body, four first main body guides and four toner supply paths are provided,
The toner cartridge is provided with a first engagement portion that engages with at least one of the first main body guides when mounted, and a toner supply port that is connected to one of the toner supply passages,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the volume of the mounting portion is kept constant and the volume of each of the toner cartridges can be changed. At least three second main body guides are provided on the mounting portion of the main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge includes a second engaging portion that engages with at least one of the second main body guides when the toner cartridge is mounted.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge has a plurality of volumes.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the installation position of the toner supply port formed in the toner cartridge with respect to the print unit is the same regardless of the volume of the toner cartridge. 5.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shape of a toner supply passage that communicates the toner cartridge and the print unit is the same regardless of a volume of the toner cartridge.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the print unit for each color is the same as the shape of the print unit for another color.

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